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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2005

Fabrication of Spherical Reflectors in Outer Space

A process is proposed for fabrication of lightweight spherical reflectors in outer space for telescopes, radio antennas, and light collectors that would be operated there. The process would obviate the relatively massive substrates and frames needed to support such reflectors in normal Earth gravitation. According to the proposal, fabrication of a reflector would begin with blowing of a bubble to the specified reflector radius. Taking advantage of the outer-space vacuum as a suitable environment for evaporative deposition of metal, a metal-evaporation source would be turned on and moved around the bubble to deposit a reflective metal film over the specified reflector area to a thickness of several microns. Then the source would be moved and aimed to deposit more metal around the edge of the reflector area, increasing the thickness there to approximately equal to 100 micron to form a frame. Then the bubble would be deflated and peeled off the metal, leaving a thin-film spherical mirror having an integral frame. The mirror would then be mounted for use. The feasibility of this technology has been proved by fabricating a prototype at JPL. As shown in the figure, a 2-in. (.5-cm) diameter hemispherical prototype reflector was made from a polymer bubble coated with silver, forming a very smooth surface.

Wang, Yu↗
NASA NTRS2010

Laser-Induced Fabrication of Metallic Interlayers and Patterns in Polyimide Films

Self-metallizing polyimide films are created by doping polyamic acid solutions with metallic ions and solubilizing agents. Upon creating a film, the film is exposed to coherent light for a specific time and then cured. The resulting film has been found to have a metallic surface layer and a metallic subsurface layer (interlayer). The layer separating the metallic layer has a uniform dispersion of small metal particulates within the polymer. The layer below the interlayer has larger metal particulates uniformly distributed within the polymer. By varying the intensity or time of exposure to the coherent light, three-dimensional control of metal formation within the film is provided.

Miner, Gilda A.↗
NASA NTRS1982

A new strategy for efficient solar energy conversion: Parallel-processing with surface plasmons

This paper introduces an advanced concept for direct conversion of sunlight to electricity, which aims at high efficiency by tailoring the conversion process to separate energy bands within the broad solar spectrum. The objective is to obtain a high level of spectrum-splitting without sequential losses or unique materials for each frequency band. In this concept, sunlight excites a spectrum of surface plasma waves which are processed in parallel on the same metal film. The surface plasmons transport energy to an array of metal-barrier-semiconductor diodes, where energy is extracted by inelastic tunneling. Diodes are tuned to different frequency bands by selecting the operating voltage and geometry, but all diodes share the same materials.

Anderson, L. M.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The NASA high temperature superconductivity program

It has been recognized from the onset that high temperature superconductivity held great promise for major advances across a broad range of NASA interests. The current effort is organized around four key areas: communications and data, sensors and cryogenics, propulsion and power, and space materials technology. Recently, laser ablated YBa2Cu3O(7-x) films on LaAIO produced far superior RF characteristics when compared to metallic films on the same substrate. This achievement has enabled a number of unique microwave device applications, such as low insertion loss phase shifters and high Q filters. Melt texturing and melt quenched techniques are being used to produce bulk materials with optimized magnetic properties. These yttrium enriched materials possess enhanced flux pinning characteristics and will lead to prototype cryocooler bearings. Significant progress has also occurred in bolometer and current lead technology. Studies are being conducted to evaluate the effect of high temperature superconducting materials on the performance and life of high power magneto-plasma-dynamic thrusters. Extended studies were also performed to evaluate the benefit of superconducting magnetic energy storage for LEO space station, lunar and Mars mission applications. The project direction and level of effort of the program are also described.

Sokoloski, Martin M.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Prospects and progress of high Tc superconductivity for space applications

Current research in the area of high temperature superconductivity is organized around four key areas: communications and data, sensors and cryogenics, propulsion and power, and space materials technology. Recently, laser ablated YBa2Cu3O(7-x) films on LaAlO3 produced far superior RF characteristics when compared to metallic films on the same substrate. The achievement has enabled a number of unique microwave device applications, such as low insertion loss phase shifters and high-Q filters. Melt texturing and melt-quenched techniques are being used to produce bulk material with optimized magnetic properties. These yttrium-enriched materials possess enhanced flux pinning characteristics and could lead to prototype cryocooler bearings. Significant progress has also occurred in bolometer and current lead technology. Studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of high temperature superconducting materials on the performance and life of high power magnetoplasma-dynamic thrusters. Extended studies were also performed to evaluate the benefit of superconducting magnetic energy storage for LEO space station, lunar, and Mars mission applications.

Romanofsky, Robert R.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Utility of Thin-Film Solar Cells on Flexible Substrates for Space Power

The thin-film solar cell program at NASA GRC is developing solar cell technologies for space applications which address two critical metrics: specific power (power per unit mass) and launch stowed volume. To be competitive for many space applications, an array using thin film solar cells must significantly increase specific power while reducing stowed volume when compared to the present baseline technology utilizing crystalline solar cells. The NASA GRC program is developing two approaches. Since the vast majority of the mass of a thin film solar cell is in the substrate, a thin film solar cell on a very lightweight flexible substrate (polymer or metal films) is being developed as the first approach. The second approach is the development of multijunction thin film solar cells. Total cell efficiency can be increased by stacking multiple cells having bandgaps tuned to convert the spectrum passing through the upper cells to the lower cells. Once developed, the two approaches will be merged to yield a multijunction, thin film solar cell on a very lightweight, flexible substrate. The ultimate utility of such solar cells in space require the development of monolithic interconnections, lightweight array structures, and ultra-lightweight support and deployment techniques.

Dickman, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Thin-film light-intensity measurement strain-analysis technique.

The optical response to loading of a thin metallic film deposited on a low-modulus structural substrate is studied theoretically and experimentally. Two types of optical properties called total and central-image transmittance (or reflectance) are shown to be related to the mechanical state of the substrate. Empirical optical-mechanical relationships are proposed between these optical properties and the substrate strain field of a general plane-stress problem. A technique based on wrinkle and microfracture patterns is described for determining principal directions of strain. Experimental results for uniaxially loaded specimens show that it is possible to obtain a nearly linear relationship between transmittance and strain for certain materials combinations.

Williams, J. G.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Status of Plasma Physics Techniques for the Deposition of Tribological Coatings

This paper reviews the plasma physics deposition techniques of sputtering and ion-plating. Their characteristics and potentials are discussed in terms of synthesis or deposition of tribological coatings. Since the glow discharge or plasma generated in the conventional sputtering and ion-plating techniques has a low ionization efficiency (<0.1%), rapid advances have been made in equipment design to further increase the ionization efficiency. The enhanced ionization favorably affects the nucleation and growth sequence of the coating. This leads to improved adherence and coherence, higher density, favorable morphological growth, and reduced internal stresses in the coatings. As a result, desirable coating characteristics can be precision tailored. Tribological coating characteristics of sputtered solid film lubricants such as MoS2, ion-plated soft gold and lead metallic films, and sputtered and ion-plated wear-resistant refractory compound films such as nitrides and carbides are discussed.

Talivaldis Spalvins↗
NASA NTRS1968

Electron microscope study of film nucleation

Crystal structure and growth, and nucleation observed by electron diffraction and microscope in formation of thin metal films during vacuum deposition on carbon

Kronenberg, K. J.↗
NASA NTRS2005

Parylene C as a Sacrificial Material for Microfabrication

Parylene C has been investigated for use as a sacrificial material in microfabrication. Although Parylene C cannot be patterned lithographically like photoresists, it nevertheless extends the range of processing options by offering a set of properties that are suitable for microfabrication and are complementary to those of photoresists. The compatibility of Parylene C with several microfabrication processes was demonstrated in experiments in which a thin film of Parylene C was deposited on a silicon wafer, then several thin metal films were deposited and successfully patterned, utilizing the Parylene C pads as a sacrificial layer. The term "parylene" -- a contraction of "poly(para-xylene)" -- denotes a family of vapor-deposited polymers. In Parylene C (the most common form of parylene), a chlorine atom is substituted for one of the hydrogen atoms on the benzene ring of each para-xylene moiety. Heretofore, parylenes have been used as conformal coating materials in diverse applications.

Beamesderfer, Michael↗
NASA NTRS1983

Laminating Polyimide Films

Thermoplastic polyimide adhesive is used to bond polyimide sheets into flexible laminates. Films are first primed with polyimide adhesive, then bonded together under heat and pressure. Adhesive is cast on separate surface, then sandwiched between polyimide and/or metal films for final assembly. Objectives of process are to improve bonding of high-temperature polyimide film, prepare flexible, large-area, void-free laminates from polyimide film, and laminate polyimide film not only to itself but to metal surfaces.

St. Clair, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Carbon Nanotube Tip Probes: Stability and Lateral Resolution in Scanning Probe Microscopy and Application to Surface Science to Semiconductors

In this paper we present results on the stability and lateral resolution capability of carbon nanotube (CNT) scanning probes as applied to atomic force microscopy (AFM). Surface topography images of ultra-thin films (2-5 nm thickness) obtained with AFM are used to illustrate the lateral resolution capability of single-walled carbon nanotube probes. Images of metal films prepared by ion beam sputtering exhibit grain sizes ranging from greater than 10 nm to as small as approximately 2 nm for gold and iridium respectively. In addition, imaging stability and lifetime of multi-walled carbon nanotube scanning probes are studied on a relatively hard surface of silicon nitride (Si3N4). AFM images Of Si3N4 surface collected after more than 15 hrs of continuous scanning show no detectable degradation in lateral resolution. These results indicate the general feasibility of CNT tips and scanning probe microscopy for examining nanometer-scale surface features of deposited metals as well as non-conductive thin films. AFM coupled with CNT tips offers a simple and nondestructive technique for probing a variety of surfaces, and has immense potential as a surface characterization tool in integrated circuit manufacturing.

Nguyen, Cattien V.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Cell and module formation research area

Metallization is discussed. The influence of hydrogen on the firing of base-metal pastes in reducing atmospheres is reported. A method for optimization of metallization patterns is presented. A process sequence involving an AR coating and thick-film metallization system capable of penetrating the AR coating during firing is reported. Design and construction of the NMA implantation machine is reported. Implanted back-surface fields and NMA primary (front) junctions are discussed. The use of glass beads, a wave-soldering device, and ion milling is reported. Processing through the module fabrication and environmental testing of its design are reported. Metallization patterns by mathematical optimization are assessed.

Bickler, D. B.↗
NASA NTRS1974

Sticking probabilities for the adsorption of hydrogen on clean Ni/111/, Ni/100/, Ni sheet and evaporated Ni films

Determination of the sticking probability for hydrogen adsorption on clean Ni(111), Ni(100), polycrystalline nickel sheet, and polycrystalline evaporated nickel films, using a modification of the reflection detector technique of Horgan and King (1970) for metal films. The initial sticking probability for hydrogen adsorption on a nickel film at 300 K by the proposed method is found to be 0.25 in comparison to 0.35 for hydrogen adsorption on a nickel film using the reflection detector technique. Also, the sticking probabilities on smooth single-crystal (111) and (100) planes and polycrystalline sheets are found to be lower than those on the rougher polycrystalline nickel films.

Horgan, A. M.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Feasibility demonstration for electroplating ultra-thin polyimide film

The effect of electrodeposition variables on film thickness was investigated using a dilute polyimide solution as a bath into which aluminum (as foil or as a vapor deposited coating) was immersed. The electrodeposited film was dried for 2 hours at 93 C (primarily to remove solvent) and cured for 18 hours at 186 C. Infrared studies indicate that imide formation (curing) occurs at 149 C under vacuum. From a conceptual viewpoint, satisfactory film metallized on one side can be obtained by this method. The cured ultra thin polyimide film exhibits properties equivalent to those of commercial film, and the surface appearance of the strippable polyimide film compares favorably with that of a sample of commercial film of thicker gauge. The feasibility of manufacturing approximately one million sq m of ultra thin film capable of being joined to fabricate an 800 m by 9 800 m square from starting material 0.5 to 1 m wide for space erectable structures was demonstrated.

Schneier, R.↗
NASA NTRS1992

One GHz leaky SAW velocity of metal layers and bilayers evaporated onto fused quartz

An acoustic microscope operating at 1 GHz was used to determine the surface acoustic wave velocities v of thin film metal layers and metal bilayers deposited onto fused quartz. V(0)'s influence was reduced by gating. This produced a calibrated accuracy of 3 percent. A program was constructed from the explicitly solved 6 x 6 theoretical determinant. Single film thicknesses were decided upon by using this theory to produce a v equal to a standard. Since the single film v's were linear with respect to their thickness, half the single film thicknesses were used for the bilayered films. The velocities for these bilayered films agreed with theory. This experimentally confirms the theoretical technique used here to examine bilayered systems, or a prototype composite interphase. No discrepancy was seen for gold films as others have reported. V(z) seemed insensitive to the formation of intermetallics or CuO. Some annealed and unannealed platinum films did not change the v from that of fused quartz. Two platinum films whose v's were in agreement with theory peeled off with the tape test.

Walikainen, Dale↗